# 760
The war of words over the origins of the Bernard Mathews turkey farm outbreak of H5N1 has been ongoing for months, with the UK insisting the virus came by way of Hungary, and Hungary denying it.
Now, it appears that Hungary is admitting it is `possible' that they were, indeed, the source.
Hungary admits link with UK bird flu outbreak
Richard Gray in Budapest, Sunday TelegraphLast Updated: 11:37pm BST 12/05/2007
Hungary has admitted for the first time that it may have been the source of the deadly flu virus that caused an outbreak at a British turkey farm.
Bognar Lajos insisted that ultimately the blame for the British outbreak must lie with Bernard Matthews.
Bognar Lajos, Hungary's deputy chief veterinary officer, conceded that the H5N1 virus could have gone undetected in a Hungarian turkey flock which was sent to slaughter.
He said the meat might then have been exported by Bernard Matthews, the British poultry company, to its plant in Holton, Suffolk, before the virus infected birds there.
Despite the admission, Mr Lajos insisted that ultimately the blame for the British outbreak must lie with Bernard Matthews, which was criticised for shortfalls in its biosecurity in the wake of the scare.
Mr Lajos said: "It is possible that the virus was still in an incubation period in a flock and no symptoms would have been seen. Such a flock could have been sent to slaughter and the meat transported to the UK. The problem was not with Hungary though. The problem was Bernard Matthews and its biosecurity."
